ACADA

Thursday, 3 November 2016

Nigerian-British boxer, Anthony Joshua to defend IBF title against Molina

Nigerian-British
born boxer, Anthony Joshua will defend his International Boxing Federation
world heavyweight title against Eric Molina of the United States in Manchester
on December 10, it was announced Tuesday.

There
had been hopes that the unbeaten Joshua, 26, might face Wladimir Klitschko
after the former heavyweight champion’s re-match with Tyson Fury, was
postponed.

But
contractual wrangles and a minor injury suffered by the Ukrainian scupper the
hopes of that bout taking place this year.

Molina,
a 34-year-old Texan, has won 25 of his 28 professional contests and took World
Boxing Council (WBC) champion Deontay Wilder to the ninth round before being
stopped last year.

Joshua,
the Olympic super-heavyweight gold medalist from the 2012 London Games and
unbeaten in 17 professional fights, said: “I am pleased that everything is now
set for December 10 and I can concentrate on getting the business done in the
ring.

“There
has been plenty of talk about who I may face but all I’m doing is concentrating
on finishing Molina in style and putting on a great show.

“Every
fight is dangerous in this division and this is no exception. I saw Molina have
a great fight with Wilder and he is now coming off a strong KO win against
(Tomasz) Adamek in Poland.

“I’m
expecting this to be the toughest fight of my career so far and I will be ready
for an all-out war.”

Joshua
last fought when he stopped Dominic Breazeale in seven rounds in June, having
overwhelmed Charles Martin to take the title two months earlier.

He
will be the firm favourite to hang on to his belt in Manchester but Molina
said: “There is no heavyweight in the world who has bounced back like I have.

“That’s
the man that Joshua faces on December 10 and that man is a very dangerous one.

“I’m
confident. These types of fights don’t shake me up. I’m a very strong mental
fighter. I know exactly what to do, mentally and physically, to go out there
and perform.”